DROGBA IS NOT OUT

 

Didier Drogba has been tipped to make a speedy recovery after undergoing an operation on his fractured arm, but his involvement at the World Cup still appears to be in the balance. The Ivory Coast striker was forced out of his side's warm-up game against Japan on Friday and it initially seemed that his World Cup dream was in tatters.

 

However, a spokesman later stated that Drogba had not been ruled out of the tournament 'at this stage' and he has now gone under the knife. The Ivory Coast Federation (FIF) is happy with how the surgery has gone and hopes he will regain fitness as quickly as possible.

 

BOLA BOYZ  WORLD CUP  3-5-2 FOOTBALL  CHELSEA

Anywhere… Everywhere… We'll Deliver! - NOBLE STAR

 

LAMPARD TO WORK WITH CAPTAIN GERRARD

 

Frank Lampard believes he can forge a successful partnership with new captain Steven Gerrard in the heart of England's midfield. Gerrard has been handed the armband for the World Cup after Rio Ferdinand was ruled out with a knee problem on Thursday.

 

Lampard, who is now the team's vice-captain, is fully behind the decision and has no doubts that Gerrard will thrive on the added responsibility as he does at club level. Lampard and Gerrard could be asked to line up together in central midfield against USA next Saturday, with Gareth Barry doubtful due to an ankle problem.

MANCHESTER UNITED   CHELSEA   LIVERPOOL   STEVEN GERRARD

 

DROGBA DOUBT FOR WORLD CUP

 

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba could miss the World Cup after fracturing his right elbow. The skipper left the field clutching his right arm in the 2-0 friendly success over Japan in Switzerland on Friday after a clash in the 16th minute with Brazilian-born defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka.

 

A hospital scan has now confirmed the injury, and team-mate Kolo Toure says the striker is out of the finals. Manchester City's Toure said he was informed of the news by Drogba himself.

 

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OBI MIKEL PULLS OUT OF WORLD CUP

 

Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has been ruled out of the World Cup amid fears over his recovery from knee surgery. Mikel becomes the latest Chelsea player to suffer World Cup heartache with Michael Ballack and Michael Essien unavailable for Germany and Ghana and with Didier Drogba's tournament with Ivory Coast in severe doubt.

 

The 23-year-old missed the closing weeks of the domestic season as the Blues clinched a Premier League and FA Cup double after going under the knife to cure a knee complaint. And he will not feature at this summer's showpiece in South Africa despite being named in the 23-man squad after informing his country that he did not want to risk his long-term recovery.

 

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ANELKA ESCAPES INJURY

 

Nicolas Anelka has survived a scare when he crashed during a mountain bike ride at France's World Cup training camp on Tuesday.

 

Anelka escaped unhurt after losing his balance on a slippery road and falling at the end of a 50-minute ride on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion.

 

The Chelsea star avoided injury, though, which is a big boost for France as the 31-year-old striker is set to lead the line for Les Bleus at this summer's World Cup finals.

 

 

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BALLACK FEELS GOOD CHANCE FOR ENGLAND

 

Michael Ballack says England have the quality to win the World Cup but their history could prove their main stumbling block.

 

Having spent four years in the Premier League, the Germany captain has witnessed several occasions where England have under-achieved, most notably their failure to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.

 

However, the 33-year-old midfielder believes Fabio Capello's men boast one of the best squads for this year's World Cup in South Africa, but must put their national team's previous tournament failings firmly to the back of their minds.

 

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WARM UP: JAPAN 1 - ENGLAND 2

 

England needed two late own goals from Japan defenders Marcus Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa to gain victory in their final World Cup warm-up match in Graz.

 

England were stunned on seven minutes when Japan surged ahead as Marcus Tulio Tanaka converted Endo's corner with a timely low drive that flew past David James.

 

Frank Lampard saw a penalty saved early in the second period. But Tanaka levelled matters when deflecting in a cross from Joe Cole and then Nakazawa suffered the same fate from a centre by Ashley Cole.

 

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MOURINHO TO LEAVE MILAN FOR MADRID

 

Inter Milan have confirmed they have reached an agreement over compensation for Jose Mourinho and he is now expected to be presented as the new manager of Real Madrid on Monday.

 

Madrid sacked Manuel Pellegrini on Wednesday and outlined their intention to replace him with Mourinho once both they and the Portuguese had negotiated his release from Inter.

 

The two clubs had been struggling to reach a compromise as Inter were insisting they must be paid the full €16 million due to them under the terms of Mourinho's contract.

 

However, an agreement, reported to be worth €8 million, has been reached after a meeting between Real president Florentino Perez and his Inter counterpart Massimo Moratti in Milan.

 

Miroslav Klose, the man with the most caps in Low's squad, missed out on the captaincy due to the fact he has not played many games this season for Bayern.

 

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ESSIEN IS OUT OF WORLD CUP

 

Ghana will need a tactical rethink for the World Cup after losing Michael Essien, described by coach Milovan Rajevac as arguably the best player in the world in his position. Chelsea midfielder Essien was ruled out of the June 11 to July 11 tournament in South Africa on Thursday after failing to recover from a knee injury.

 

Essien picked up the injury during the African Nations Cup in Angola in January, where the Ghanaians reached the final even though he played only 45 minutes for them. Rajevac said several other players were battling to be fit for Ghana's World Cup Group D opener against his native Serbia in Pretoria on June 13.

 

 

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OBI MIKEL IS READY FOR ACTION

 

John Obi Mikel is 'fit' and will join the rest of his Nigeria team-mates on Friday, a spokesman for the country's football federation has announced.

 

The Chelsea midfielder has been in doubt for this summer's World Cup after undergoing a recent operation to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

 

But Nigeria Football Federation media officer Idah Peterside has revealed a medical team from the Super Eagles that visited Mikel's London club to determine how long he would be out have returned with encouraging news.

 

 

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